Animals of West Vancouver

The Environment and Wildlife for West Vancouver : 

The Environment and Wildlife for West Vancouver

Wildlife : 

Wildlife The West Vancouver area is home to many diverse species of wildlife. This section of the slideshow will show you some of the main creatures in this unique ecosystem.

Bear : 

Bear The forests and mountainsides in and around West Vancouver are home to large amounts of bears. Bears can grow to huge sizes, and are very strong and intimidating. These giants only become dangerous if you stray near their young. Most bears feed on berries and salmon. Sadly, because of lack of food they are more and more often coming down the mountain in search of food. Sometimes they even stray into people’s back-yards.

Coyote : 

Coyote In the forests around West Vancouver coyotes roam the mountainsides. These fierce hunters rarely stray near the cities, so don’t be afraid. Coyotes usually travel in packs of six, but they usually hunt in pairs. Coyotes are very capable of digging their own dens, but usually they inhabit dens dug by woodchucks or badgers.

Birds : 

Birds Due to all the trees in the forests around West Vancouver a variety of bird species have made their homes near West Vancouver. This bird is the Canadian Goose, it’s name pretty much says it all. These birds migrate south every winter, and are good swimmers because of their webbed feet.

Fish : 

Fish The rivers that lead down from the mountains provide nourishment to forest and trees, and a sanctuary to fish. These salmon are probably on there way travelling up-stream to their birth place, where they will reproduce. While travelling upstream the fish start to rot, and their flesh changes to a beautiful orange-red colour.

Seals : 

Seals Seals can be found swimming in the waters around the West Vancouver coast. These creatures are often seen with their heads bobbing up and down along the coast near West Vancouver. They live on beaches or outcrops of uninhabited [by humans] land. They feed on fish, but mainly on salmon travelling to the ocean.

Deer : 

Deer Perhaps the most elegant forest dweller, this creature can be found throughout the forest of West Vancouver. These hoofed animals are very timid, and will often run away if you get too close. They blend in very well with the forest because of their excellent camouflage.

Beaver : 

Beaver Beavers are the animals you will find on the common nickel. The beavers were important to Canada’s heritage through the fur trade, and are one of Canada’s favoured species. Beavers are known for there instinct to build dams. Beaver build dams using chewed up twigs from trees they felled, or found. They hollow the dam out, and live in them.

Heron : 

Heron This animal can be found fishing, for, well fish. It may be seen eating fish out of a citizens pond. They are very timid, and will fly off at any loud sound or abrupt motion. Their long beaks allow them to spear fish with quick intensity and their long neck help them to catch their prey more accurately and effectively.

Common Animals : 

Common Animals If there’s water there’s ducks, and water in West Vancouver is not in short supply. Even the smallest neighbourhood pond is sure to get duck visitors. The bright feathers of a male mallard duck are used to attract a female. The females however have mottled feathers for camouflage, so possible predators do not spot the mother when she is on her nest.

Common Animals 2 : 

Common Animals 2 There are many other every-day species that can be found and located around the West Vancouver coastal area. Perhaps the most common is the squirrel. These creatures hoard acorns, and chestnuts. They sometimes store them underground for storage, and are often scared away, so they don’t dig them up again.

Common Animals 3 : 

Common Animals 3 Another animal found commonly in the backyards of citizens all over West Vancouver is the skunk. This animal is known for its stinky spray, and it’s long black and white stripes. When it feels in danger it releases a putrid gas that may cling to the victim for days. One well-known way to get rid of the scent is to have a bath in tomato juice.

Common Animals 4 : 

Common Animals 4 One of the other common animals around West Vancouver is the raccoon. This scavenger is known to tip over garbage cans in search of food. They make their homes anywhere they can find shelter, and this is usually somewhere they feel safe. Their homes need to be out-of-sight of humans, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be close to human dwellings.

Environment of West Van. : 

Environment of West Van. West Vancouver is home to many land formations, from tall mountains like the Coast Mountain Range, to bodies of water like the Pacific Ocean.

Weather Introduction : 

Weather Introduction To support all the forest growth in West Vancouver we need to get lots of rain... We do. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have beautiful sunny days, and hot weather. In February though, don’t expect much.

Weather, what to Expect : 

Weather, what to Expect February is not going to be the warmest month, in fact it is one of the coldest. I advise raincoats, sweaters, snow suits, and all your winter gear. We don’t get much snow in the city, but in the surrounding mountains you can have tons of fun in the snow.

Facts : 

Facts To be comfortable with the West Vancouver weather you need to know the facts. February in West Vancouver isn’t that great. Mind you, there’s lots of snow-boarding and skiing, so grab your winter gear. You can go tobogganing or have snow ball fights. But when the snow melts the streets are filled with slush, so make sure your snow stuff is water-proof. February usually gets three hours of sunlight, and the temperature is usually between 1 and 7 degrees celcius.

Bibliography : 

Bibliography If you would like to find out more about any of these topics you can visit the sites we used here they are in order: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coyote http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_goose http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/animals/deer.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaver http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squirrel http://www.bears.org/animals/ http://www.bears-bears.org/

Photo Biblio : 

Photo Biblio Slide 2 bear by brewbooks at http://www.flickr.com/search/?l=cc&q=bear+catching+salmon+&m=text Slide 3 bear by peter.macdonald at http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=bear&l=cc&ct=0&page=2 Slide 4 coyote by emdot at http://www.flickr.com/search/?l=cc&q=coyote+&m=text Slide 5 Canadian goose by David Schexnaydre at http://www.flickr.com/search/?l=cc&q=canadian+goose&m=text Slide 6 salmon by mrjorgen at http://www.flickr.com/search/?l=cc&q=salmon&m=text Slide 7 seal by nutmeg66 at http://www.flickr.com/search/?l=cc&q=seal&m=text Slide 8 dear by *Micky at http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=deer&l=cc&page=2 Slide 9 beaver by Qba from Poland at http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=beaver&l=cc&page=2

Photo Biblio 2 : 

Photo Biblio 2 Slide 10 heron by Yogi at http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=heron+in+Vancouver&l=cc&page=2 Slide 11 mallard duck by gak at http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=mallard+duck+Vancouver&l=cc&page=2 Slide 12 squirrel by Michael Scheltgen at http://www.flickr.com/search/?l=cc&q=squirrel+in+Vancouver&m=text Slide 13 skunk by bchow at http://www.flickr.com/search/?l=cc&q=skunk+in+Vancouver&m=text Slide 14 raccoon by Pat Leahy at http://www.flickr.com/search/?l=cc&q=raccoon+in+Vancouver&m=text Slide 15 picture by Lori & Todd at http://www.flickr.com/search/?l=cc&q=aerial+view+Vancouver&m=text Slide 16 picture by sonson at http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Vancouver+weather&l=cc&page=4 Slide 17 pictures by top left by bitterly sweet at http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=cloudy+weather+&l=cc&page=2 , top right by kevin.creamer at http://www.flickr.com/search/?l=cc&q=sunny+weather+in+Vancouver&m=text, bottom left by shadowfall at http://www.flickr.com/search/?l=cc&q=snowy+weather+tree&m=text , and finally bottom right by Carol Browne at http://www.flickr.com/search/?l=cc&q=rainy+day+Vancouver&m=text